Some Will Find It Easier To Get Medical Marijuana Than Others In Florida

Monday, November 28, 2016 6:01

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Eligible for medical marijuana? That’s the first step, the second step is finding it. Depending on where you live that will be harder for some Floridians.

After the passage of Amendment 2, the state is preparing to expand its highly restrictive medical cannabis program on January 3, 2017. According to the Miami Herald, dispensaries providing oils, low-THC pills, vape pens and other products are expected to pop up all over the state. Since the federal law prohibits pharmacies from distributing marijuana, dispensaries will likely be the way to go.

There is a lot of uncertainty as to how and when the dispensaries will open. State legislators and the Department of Health will likely have to set the parameters for the expanded program by June. Equally as important as patients’ access to their medication is how and whether cities and counties regulate the location and operation of the facilities.

States have been left alone by the U.S. Department of Justice to legalize and expand marijuana usage under President Obama’s recent policy of ignoring state-sanctioned operations. There is some question whether President-Elect Donald Trump and new attorney general, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions will adopt different policies.

In addition, most banks are wary of doing business with marijuana dispensaries meaning many storefronts could be cash-only.

We should start seeing how everything is going to work early next year.